Reclining seat for passenger vehicles



June 20, 1944. g. F, NYSTROM 2,351,698

RECLINING SEAT FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES Filed April 25, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet 1 v7 43 y E i Z uni-r l U 15 27 A." I

4L 1 19 P 17 J 20 50 June 1944. K. F. NYSTROM RECLINING SEAT FORPASSENGER VEHICLES Filed April 25, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J: 11 a ll U 5NnN QAQN m8 Wm l 1 2% i 1 mm 3% Q R hm wm I? if June 20, 1944. K. F.NYSTROM RECLINING SEAT FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES Filed April 25, 1942 5SheetsSheet 3 Ind 911151- June 20, 1944. K, F, NYSTROM 2,351,698

RECLINING SEAT FOR PASSENGER VEHICLES Filed April 25, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet June 20, 1944. K F. NYSTROM RECLlNING SEAT FOR PASSENGERVEHICLES 5 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 25, 1942 g Q bo Patented June 20,1944 RECLINING SEAT FOR PASSENGER- VEHICLES Karl F. Nystrom, Milwaukee,Wis.

Application April 25, 1942, Serial No. 440,469

8 Claims.

My invention relates especially to reclining seats for railroadpassenger cars and more particularly to reclining seats arranged inpairs and mounted on a common immovable base, each seat, however, beingindependently adjustable from an upright seating position into a partialor complete reclining position in keeping with the wishes of theoccupant.

The invention has for its object the provision of a reclining seat forpassenger coaches whose seat proper and back move or tilt together as aunit about a center axis of the seat whereby improper shifting of theoccupants body is prevented, proper support for the body provided andthe desired degree of body reclination is within the control of theoccupant.

Another object of the invention is the provision of one seat insectional elevation and with the cushions removed.

of a structure whereby the maximum or required spacing between therespective seats arranged in the same longitudinal row will besubstantially maintained and proper clearance or passage for theoccupant of the adjacent seat of the pair provided. A further object ofthe invention is the provision of a structure whereby the paired seatsmay be bodily or horizontally swung about their common axis or king-pinand the king-pin made to move through a defined orbit in order that theseat-arms of the two seat unit will be prevented 'from striking thewainscoting or side wall of the car, necessary rotation of the unitspermitted and the respective seats made to face toward the opposite endof the car.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a seat of thecharacter mentioned wherein the front edge of the seat proper movesupwardly and rearwardly, but not forwardly, when the seat is tilted,while the arms always remain in the same relative position with regardto the seat back and seat proper, thus providing for a simple armconstruction involving less cost in manufacture. The invention alsoinvolves means whereby the too rapid reclining movement of the seat isprevented after the occupants center of gravity passes the center ofmovement of the tilting mechanism.

' The foregoing enumerated objects and advantages as well as otheradvantages inherent in the invention will all be readily comprehendedfrom the detailed description of the accompanying drawings wherein-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line1-4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows with the seatand back cushions'in outline and in normal position, while the recliningor tilted position of the seat and back are indicated in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 as viewedby the arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the oiTset line 44 of Figure 1 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a modifled form of strut mountingof the vise mechanism.

Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2, with the cushions, thearm-rests and operating levers omitted and illustrating a modificationof the method of mounting the seats.

In the particular exemplification of the invention as disclosed inFigure 1, the permanent base i5, which is immovably secured at thepreselected point to the car-floor F, supports a non-tilting revolvableframe or base i6 through the medium of a cam-plate l1 which preferablyiswelded in the permanent base ii. The cam-plate i1 is provided with anelliptical or somewhat heart-shape opening, as shown in dotted lines atla in Figure 3, which receives the king-pin IS; the non-tiltingrevolvable frame l8 being slidably secured on the immovable or permanentbase It by a large metal washer 20 which is of size sufficient toprevent withdrawal through the heart-shape opening IS.

The revolvable non-tilting base or frame i8 is controlled by links 2|,2| (shown in dotted lines in Figure 3) connected at one of their ends tothe revolvable non-tilting base l8 and at their .other ends to the camplate ll. of the stationary pedestal it. These links cause the king-pinI! to describe an orbit substantially similar to the heart-shape hole oropening is in the cam plate I! when the seat unit is revolved to face inthe opposite direction; the travel of the king-pin in the cam-plateopening permitting the seat unit carrying frame i6 to shift sufiicientlyaway from the car side wall where the arm of the adjacent or inner seatof the unit will not strike the walnscoting of the car.

The non-tilting base i6 is bridged across the pedestal or permanent baseIS in order that the king-pin [9 may be attached to the non-tiltingframe is through the medium of the U-shape bracket 22 which alsoreceives the seat unit support tube member 23 (to which it is preferablywelded as shown in Figure 2), thus enabling the support tube or shaftand the non-tilting frame IE to be secured at one and the same time tothe pelimanent base through the medium of the king p v The tubing 24(preferably of rectangular cross section) constitutes the master supportfor the seat bottom and extends transversely of each seat, as shown inFigur 3; and this tubing also constitutes the medium through which thepivoting mechanism therebeneath is secured to the seat. The seat framepreferably consists of pre- Figure 3 is a plan view with a portion of aback shaped tubing 25 welded or properly secured to the ends of thetubing 24, and provided with a cross-brace or tube 25 to which suitableplywood is secured which may be employed in the construction of the seatproper as shown at 21, Figure 1. The outer sides of the frames 25(namely the sides removed from the adjacent seat) are each provided witha suitable arm 28, preferably also shown constructed of square metaltubing bent into the inverted somewhat U-shape configuration, see Figure1, with the intermediate top portion made substantially straight andprovided with a suitable padding or cushion as at 29. The arms 28 arerigidly secured to the frames 25 so as to remain in the same relativeposition ,with regard to the back and the seat; that is to say, the armswill move or tilt upwardly at the front and downwardly at rear inkeeping with the tilting movement of the seats as shown in dotted linesin Figure 1.

The seat is so secured to the sub-structure that it does not moveforwardly but the front of the seat moved upwardly and somewhatrearwardly when the seat is tilted, as shown in dotted lines in Figure1, and consequently does not materially decrease the normal spacingbetween it and the seat immediately forward.

The seat unit supporting shaft or tube 23 at its ends extends intoshells 30, 30 which are secured to the respective seats-b blocks 3|, soas to prevent the seats moving independently of the tubes or shells 30,whose outer ends are preferably provided with closure caps 32. Adjacentthe inner ends of each shell 30, the supporting shaft or tube 23 has anapertured plate or washer 33 (which is not secured to the shell 30)mounted thereon; the Washer 33 being immovably secured to thenon-tilting frame I! as by welding, see

or rods 4| supported at their outer ends by depending brackets 42through the medium of rubber bushings and cup member, as shown at 42 inFigure 4; the shaft 4| extending through a large hole in plate orbracket 42.

Each shaft 4| at its inner end is provided with a predetermined numberof screw-threads 4|,

' namely preferably approximately eighteen right- Figure 2. The shells30 are each provided with rubber blocks or pads 34 concentricallyarrangedon the support shaft 23; and the shell provided with spacedmetal plates 35 integrally united with the shell 33 against movement anddisposed adjacent the inner ends of the rubber pads or cushions 34; theinnermost pad 34 being maintained in position by the plate or washer 33secured to the non-tilting frame l6; while the outermost pad 34 is heldwithin the shell 30 by a follower plate or washer 36. The hollowsupporting shaft or tube 23 has a rod 31 extending longitudinallytherethrough and the outer ends of the rod are screw-threaded as shownin Figure 2. The ends of the rod are each provided with a cupped plateor washer 38 whose perimeter is arranged in contact with the followerplate 33 and causes the latter to place the rubber pad or cushions 34under compression when the nut or nuts 39 are screwed up on the threadedends of the rod 31. As is apparent, screwing up of nut 33 forcesfollower-plate 33 inwardly, compressing the outer pad 34 and through themedium of the plates 35 and shell 33 places the inner pad 34 undercompression against immovable washer 33; the rubber pads or cushionmembers 34 effectin binding or frictional relation with the shells 30and the supporting shaft or tube 23, so that the pads will be in torsionwhen the seat is tilted and the outer shell 30 is rotated; the pads orcushion 34 providing a non-vibrating relation between the mechanism.

The seats are normally locked against tilting movement and the degree oftilting controlled by certain mechanisms located beneath the seat frame;the mechanisms being independently controlled by the respective handlevers 40 which are secured to the outer ends of their respective shaftshand threads to the inch, which are screwed into an outer shell 43 of avise'mechanism which also involves an inner shell 44 which screws ontothe reduced threaded end 45 of rod 4| which is provided with apredetermined number of lefthand threads, namely approximately twentylefthand screw-threads to the inch. The vise forming members or shells43 and 44 are provided with aligned holes, namely holes that are drilledthrough both shells at the same time, which receive the strut 45 whoselower end is supported by and secured to a bar 41 which is welded orrigidly secured to the non-tilting revolvable frame l8 (see Figure 3).The lower end of strut 46 (in the form of a built-up eye-bolt) issecured to bar 41 by bolt 48 which is preferably provided with rubberwashers 49 placed under compression by the nut and washer on the end ofthe bolt 48.

As shown in Figure 3 each seat of the unit is provided with similarcontrol or looking mechanism and each seat on the side removed from itscompanion seat is provided with a hand lever 40 in order that theposition of each seat may be independently controlled by its occupant.

The vise mechanism, which is mounted beneath each seat frame, effectsbiting or gripping relation with the upstanding rod or strut 43 which.latter is immovably secured to the non-tilting frame I6 through themedium of bar 41.

The lever operated rod or shaft 4| is Provided with a torsion spring 50which normally rotates shaft 4| and hence movement of the shells 43 and-44 in strut clamping direction through the medium of the collar 5|secured to rod 4| by the set-screw shown at 5|, see Figure 4; while theother end of the spring is held against movement by stop means 52secured to the tubing or member 53 secured or welded to the seat frame;the tubing 53 also having an immovable collar 54 secured thereto, whichin turn rotatably supports the outer shell 43 of the vise mechanism andwhich, as before stated, also includes the inner shell 44. When theoccupant of the seat oscillates lever 40, shaft or rod 4| is rotatedagainst the action of the spring and causes shell 43 to ride to the leftin Figure 4 and inner shell 44 to ride to the right, thereby aligningthe holes in the shells and releasing their bite on the strut 45; theoperator holding lever 40 until he has tilted the seat to its desiredreclining position.

When the hand lever 40 is released by the occupant, the torsional spring50 (in addition to the torsion of rubber cushions 34) causes shaft 4| toreturn to normal position and induce the inner shell or vise member 44to move to the left and the outer shell or vise member 43 to move to theright in Figure 4, causing both shells to effect a biting or clampingrelation with the strut 45 which locks the seat in its adjusted positionagainst tilting movement.

In order to control the too rapid tilting movement of the seat after theoccupants center of gravity is past the center of the tilting mechanism,each seat is provided with a dampener or cushioning means which is shownin the nature of flat springs 55 whose inner ends are secured to theseat supporting tube or shaft 23 by the U- securedji n. place.

2351:693 56;:whiletheouter. or. freeend sof the springsg extendlooselyaintothe pocket on socket-member i 51 secured .to zythe bottom.of ithe forwardfiendlof theseat; the springs1 55texertingwaadownwards.

pressure againstztthe upward..- movement; of thew 5 front oftheseatsafter the seat has beenrti-lted toir a predetermined. extent.

In order toilimit' the sdegree ofatiltingmovement *1andalso.provideiafsafetymechanism in: the event of failure 1 ofthe vise:mechanismv. the 1 seat- ;frame'.

(adjacent {its forward-cendds provided. With. :a dependingthreadedvtpin:xon-bolt 58 whose {uppers end is welded onrrigidlyisecunedto the .frame "-253.

The piniil extends loosely through: an opening :in the horizontalportion ;.of= an angular plate- :58 v 15;

which is rigidly; secured: tOaflIhilpbltilfdlfldlSDOSBdf post orextension .6! asecur ed- 1to -.th -forwardend 1 of the" revolvablew:noni-tiltinga: frame lit; The

lower end. of thepinkilris.providedsvitn nuts. i which will contactithe. bottom 0ft; plate istwhenaz the seat isi tilted a: predetermineddegreewandr:

prevent :further rtilting ::m.ovement.1 In the event '1 of failure ofthe vise mechanismslthe 1 nuts Cl may.bescrewediup....on.;pin :5l,'.while t he seat .is-: A in normal or:upright;position;.into firm-contactwith plate M and; thercby lock-ithe seat.;against mu g movement;

i In order toprevent the-occupantof the seat atolthe rear placing histoe ..intor-.the-.space between;

the cushions of :the lseatproperuand .of the .back; so

I secure an. arcuate kicl'rjplate 81 -to-;the=bottom of i the seatproper and 'tothelcross-brace 26 f (see Figure l *thetplateflq-extendingthe full width.

of the .seat and: being .boltedsyorrotherwise rigidly v. The kickplate'fl, intermediateits. ends,.,has.a

an angle bar Biseoureda thereto; the angle bar;

aifording means for, supporting the, seat-boards 21 which aresecured totheianglebar ii; i

Figure 5 *isa;pers pective view-of .a modified form. of mounting theglower end .aofl the. upright strut ref the vise mechanism, .In: this.2modi-. flcation'. the. :strut 46 is; :provided. 1 with a clevismember:64?suitab1y. secured itoagthelower endof the strut :46 3- and: 1the.;-Jaws ofitheaclevis "member 64 receive: thezlaterally;oilsetpn-bent bar :or ;ex.- tensioncl'l secured .ito'..the..non-.tilting .lframelt-athe bar ll' takingthe placeof bar lll previously described. Theendof bar ll isprovided with.

a hole. adapted. torregister.withhOls in the laws 5 of the clevis'member;fl gandzadapted to receive the pin. 65, .Whi'chimaybe held in.place by cotterpinsas shown.

In Figure new. a;modified imannerof tilt-1 transversely of each seatandv:to whichzthe tilting; mechanism therebeneathzis secured; the seat andback cushions. the arm rests. and. hand. levers which are similartothoseshown in the preceding figures havingbeentomitted. y a t The seat:unit (consistingvof ,two aligned seats).

mounted "on the..-permanent v:base or; pedestal :II,

which is. immovablyisecured- .tmthecar-floor; has

ably mounting thelseatsiwhich invoivesthe metal frames itwiththesupportmember-.24 extending: r

the same type ofrevolvable ,non-etilting humor. 65

base ilsecuredatov the :baselor pedestal. l I through the mediumcof th-nameplate; I I; king-pin l8 and U-shape. bracket 22; thenbracket nproviding, support for the main, .unit 'support or member 2'3 whichpreferably is welded tothe; bracketiagainst 7 movement. The supporttube.or member "has; the dampener springs "secured-thereto as here-.- toforedescribed. i

The top of the supporttubes'onmember Ithas a pair of'u-shape-bloeksilia.pairfor each seat) 75.

support "member 2|; coincident with v the blocks 66,: .hasz-aztpair ofolevis members. 61 intimately secured thereto the clevis members. 51being adaptedrto. straddleithe wueshape blocks. 66; The t sidesofwtheblocks 66 and the clevis. members .61 a have registering holestoreceive the hinge-pins 68 1 held-in-place inany sultableimanner as bycotter- Dins-prthealike; r r

. This hinge soarranged'permits each seat to be independently tiltedbackwardly by theoccupant upon shifting-thehand-lever Ill (shown inFigures 1:12 and-:4) sufflcientlywto, release the vise mechanism:consisting of shaft ,aspring ill; concentric sleevesflp :and strutlhwhich is simiiar tothe construction: shown in Figure 5: and secured totheoif-setend "Rot. thesbar 41 shown-in Figures Thelseats tilt intoreclining position about the ihingeepins"andchenceabout the main supportmember :or tube 231* without permitting .-.-the seat proper cor -cushionto move. forwardly; the seatarms also-tilting upwardlyat their forwardends and. maintaining their original relation to the seats and seatback; thetilting movement being yieldingly 1 controlled by'the leafspring Bl which are constructed and arrangedas heretofore described andthe tilting. of the seat into reclining position being-permitted: afterthe-vise mechanism has been: actuated into non-gripping position.

In. my improved seat construction the holding or vise mechanism providesan unlimited number of reclining. positions in -keeping with the wishesof the occupanttas the. seat may have any delgreeoi inclination...Furthermore. theunitary or integral seat and back frame, which tilt as aunit, provides aastronger constructionand'decreases deflectionbetweenthe seat .and the back when subject to additional load; andthetubular arm constructionaii'ordstheoccupant the maxi mumspacepossibleforxarmirest spacing. 1

Then; too thedeaf; springs prevent 3 the seat tiltingtoo easily-when;Passingthescenter of support; thus eliminating: the falling. sensation".encountered with tilting seats. as at present con-,

structed; while the regulable tilt. limiting. means mayalso beemployedfor lockingthe seatagainst. tilting movement in theevent offailure of the vise mechanism.

The constructions illustrated and described are believed tube the bestembodiments of the invention, but modifications-in certain respects arepossible and. may be made-without, however, departingjrom thespiritohmyinvention as denned in, the-appended .claims.

WhatIclaimis: i

l. Arecliningseat comprising; a seat and back formingwframe: animmovable base; a horizontally disposed seat supporting. shaft immovablymounted on said-basera'rubber bushing containing shell associated.withthe; seat-bottom and concentrically arranged aboutsaid shaft; reguelable .means wherebythe rubber. bushing is placed undercompressionintcbinding; relation with said .shell and with the -supportingishait-and anonmetallic mountingzbetweentheseat and said sup-l porting: shaftprovided a rigid vertically disposedmember immovably supported on thebase; a pair of-spring-controlledvise members adapted -.to effectbinding relationwith said vertically disposed memberwhereby-theseat islockedagains't tilting." movement; and a; hand operated lever wherebysaid vise members may be movedoutof binding relation'with: said:vertically disposed" member when the seat is to be tilted.

integrally secured -theretoy while: the frame or.

2. A reclining seat comprising an immovable base; a non-tilting framemounted on said base and provided with a horizontally disposed shaftadapted to support a pair ofseats; independent cushioning meansfor-tiltably securing each seat to said shaft; means whereby saidcushioning means may be regulated; means associated with each seat forresisting the tilting movement after the seat has-tilted a predetermineddegree; means whereby each seat is normally locked against tiltingmovement, said means involving a rigidly secured strut beneath eachseat, a spring controlled shaft rotatably mounted on'the bottom of saidseat and oppositely screw-threaded at one end, a pair of concentric visemembers arranged on the threaded end of the shaft and each membercontrolled by an oppositely threaded portion of the shaft, said memberseach having a hole therethrough adapted to receive the strut andtoeffect binding relation therewith when the shaft rotates through theinfluence of the spring; and a hand operatedv lever secured to saidshaft whereby thelatter may be rotated against the action of its-springand the vise members moved out of binding relation with the strut.

3.A reclining seat comprising an immovable base; an immovablehorizontally disposed shaft; a. rigidly connected seat and back framearranged above said shaft; means operatively connected withthe bottom ofthe seat and with said shaft wherebythe seat-frame is tiltablysecured'to said shaft; automatic vise mechanism operatively intermediate.the bottom of the seat and said'base and involving an upstandingelement immovably secured to. the base, a pair. of oppositely movingelement gripping members, a spring controlled shaft on which saidmembers are threaded and made to move into gripping position and theseatlockedin its adjusted positions; and a hand-lever mounted on theseat-frame and on on'e'end or" the ,spring controlled shaft whereby thelatter may be rotated and said gripping members moved out of grippingposition thereby permitting the seat to tilt about said first mentionedshaft.

4. A reclining seat comprising an integrally united seat;and back frame;animmovable base provided with a strut; a horizontally disposed shaftimmovably carried by the base; means whereby said frame is tiltablymounted on saidshaft, said means being secured to the bottom of the seatand yieldingly held against movement about the shaft; spring controlledmechanismadapted to effect gripping relation with the strut whereby saidframe is locked in its adjusted positions; and an oscillative hand-levermounted nism out of locking position. v

5. A reclining seat comprising an integrally united seat and-back frame;an immovable base provided with an upstanding portion; a horizontallydisposed seat supporting shaft immovably mounted on the base; meanssecured to the bottom of said frame and disposed about said shaftwhereby saidfiframe is tiltably secured to said shaft; cushioningelements intermediate the shaft-and said means whereby the latter isyield-' ingly .held against rotation about said shaft;

dampener means for yieldingly resisting the tiltspring controlledrotatable-shaft provided with a pair'of oppositely moving strut grippingmembers whereby the frame is locked against tilting movement and held initsadjusted positions;

regulable means whereby the maximum tilt of the frame may be controlledand. a hand-lever secured to the frame and operatively connected withsaid spring controlled shaft whereby, the strut gripping members may beheld out of locking position. v

7. A reclining seat comprising a seat and back forming frame; animmovable base providedwith an upstanding strut; a horizontallydisposednonv movable seat supporting shaft mounted on said base; a rubberbushing-containing shell immovably secured tothe seat-bottom anddisposed about said shaft; regulable means whereby the rubber is placedunder compression into gripping relation with said shell'an'd the seatsupporting shaft and the rubber placed in torsion when the seat istilted; a lever operated shaft rotatably mounted beneath the seat;atorsion spring for returning said last shaft to normal position, saidshaft being provided with oppositely disposed screw-threads; and a, pairof apertured strut receiving shells threaded, respectively, on theoppositely disposed screw-threads of said shaft and adapted to effectbiting engagement with the I strut, thereby locking the seat againsttilting movement.

8. A reclining seat comprising an immovable base; a non-tilting framemounted on said base .55 on said frame and adapted to shift saidmechaand provided with a transversely disposed immovable shaft adaptedto support a pair of seats arranged at opposite sides of the verticalaxis of said frame; a shell disposed about each end of said shaft andimmovably secured to the bottom of the superposed seat; rubber padsarranged in said shells and apertured for passage of said shafttherethrough; adjustable follower means arranged on the shaft and withinthe shells whereby the rubber pads are forced into gripping relationwith said shaft and said shells and tilting of the seats yieldinglyresisted; and means whereby each seat is normally locked to said frameagainst tilting movement, said means involvingan upstanding strutcarried by said frame, a torsionspringcontrolled'shaft rotatably mountedon the bottom of each seat and having oppositely threaded portions, apair of apertured shells through which the strut passes,

said shells being threaded, respectively, on the oppositely threadedportions of the shaft and normally in gripping relation with the strut;and

a hand operated lever on each seat whereby the spring controlled shaftmay be rotated against the actionof the spring and the shells caused tomove in opposite directions out of gripping relation with the strut andthe seat permitted to tilt into desired reclining position.

KARL F. NYSTRQOM.

